Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-01-28
a Night Watch in Algeria.

a Night Watch in Algeria.
Only those who have experienced IL
can realize the excitement caused by
witnessing hand-to-hand conflict De-
tween two savage, untamed beasts.
have witnessed bull fights in Mexico
and seen python crush the life out OF
a calf in South America, but never gazed
on more thrilling episode than on one
hot Algerian night at awater pool about
200 miles in the interior. Beside the
pool were several trees of fair size, In
the branches Of one of which had been
placed small platform hidden among
the clustered leaves, from which hiding
place il was convenient to shoot any
animal that might come to the pool TO
drink during the night. Thither re-
paired, one evening soon after sundown,
Maccovoy and myself, accompanied by
his Arab servant, a young fellow named
Asilla, who bore our spare guns and
acted as general factotum to US both on
expeditions of this nature. 1t is difficult
for me, in my cooler moments, to climb
tree, and the smooth straight stem proved
extremely troublesome TO swarm. How
ever, with the help of Mac and Asilla, L
managed it and secured comfortable
perch. They followed with great facil-
ity, being both slight, active men, and
at once made the guns ready.
The moon rose gradually. and | had
good opportunity TO study perfect ST.
lence. Nothing can be more deeply ST.
lent than a still night in the Desert. AS
there is little or no vegetation on those
vast oceans of land there is no insec.
life, and for several hours after the moon
rose absolute silence reigned. We did
not speak. There was no wind. 1t
seemed as if there was no living thing
in that widespread expanse of country.
| was beginning to feel sleepy and nod
frequently, when II prolonged roar
sounded close at hand. In an instant
we were wide awake, and grasped our
guns nervously. At the next instant
the roar was answered from a location
Immediately beneath us. On locking
down we saw lioness lying on her
belly. head between her paws, and her
long tail waving luxuriously y to and fro.
She looked like huge cat enjoying
some pleasurable sensation. Almost in
stantly a third "Woof! woof!" sounded
at our backs. "Gad, Doc" breathed
Mac, "we are in for bay tonight"
and a moment later two magnificent
males stepped slowly and majestically
into view. The female continued to
purr and wave her tail gently.
As soon as the two lions spied each
other they prepared for action. Slowly
and carefully they neared each other,
the lioness meanwhile watching them
rs cat does a mouse. Closer and
closer they drew, while we, spellbound,
reserved our fire to witness the terrible
duel that was impending.
And now they crouch and with mu-
tual roars of rage spring at each other,
and, meeting in mid-leap, fall, biting
and tearing to the earth. We can hear
their bones crush between their power
full Jaws, like egg shells beneath mans
boot heel. The lioness, maintaining her
TRANQUIL attitude, watches .he conflict,
as it seemed to my excited eyes, with
devilish smile on her face. Over and
over they rolled while the sickening
sound of champing bones filled the air,
mingled with their frantic roaring and
the movement of their bodies as they
thrashed through the whirling sand.
By this time my nerves were so wrought
up that | could stand the terrible specta-
Gle no longer, and, taking deliberate
| aim at the lioness, behind her shoulder
blade, let fly. Above the rumble Of
the smooth bore sounded the shrek of
the lioness as the heavy ball crashed
into her vitals. The two duelists at
once ceased their encounter, and as one
! of them turned he received Maccovoy's
rifle bullet in the head, the missile pierre
ing the hollow over the eye, where the
! skull is weak, and entering the brain.
Death was almost instantaneous. The
other male. with laundering "woof"
! gave mighty spring and landed half
way up the tree trunk, nearly shaking
US from our perch, Asilla hastily dis
charged one of our spars guns slap bang
into his face, but probably the charge
ONLY grazed him, for, falling back, he
( disappeared into the darkness toward
where the means and cries Of the lioness
grew fainter and fainter every moment.
The moon being on the wane, after
all sounds had ceased we returned TO
camp. with many promises to each other
to take up the spoor of our wounCed en-
emies in the morning and track them TO
their death. Accordingly at daybreak,
with a party of fifty Arab beaters, we
returned 10 the "stand" and were sOon
on the spoor of the wounded lioness.
The sand was torn up for quite space,
AS if the animal had suffered terrible ag-
ony, and following the trail for at least
nine miles in souIheasterly direction
the dogs gave tongue at tamarish
brake that extended on three sides oi
quite body of brackish water. Some
four or five of the dogs, of better blood
than the average Arab cur, dashed into
tie tangle. and the next instant we ha6